Now there are fears the shutting down of all land, sea and air links will trigger supply shortages to Qatar — a nation that is located on the Gulf peninsular and relies heavily on its only land border with Saudi Arabia to access food.

Trade sources pointed to the likelihood of shortages growing in Qatar until the crisis eased.

An Iranian official said his country could export food to Qatar by sea, as Saudi Arabia and three other nations moved to isolate the gas-rich nation after severing diplomatic ties and accusing it of supporting terrorism.

The semi-official Fars news agency quoted Reza Nourani, chairman of the union of exporters of agricultural products, as saying that food shipments sent from Iran could reach Qatar in 12 hours.

The rift has caused Qatar's stock market index to sink 7.3 per cent, with some of the market's top blue chips hardest hit, and some Egyptian banks have said they will suspend dealing with Qatari banks.

Qatar to seek dialogue

Qatar wants to give Kuwait's ruler Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber al-Sabah the ability to "proceed and communicate with the parties to the crisis and to try to contain the issue," Qatar's Foreign Minister said in comments to Qatar-based Al Jazeera television.

Kuwait's emir had an important role in a previous Gulf rift in 2014 and Qatar's Sheikh Tamim "regards him as a parent and respects his desire to postpone any speech or step until there is a clearer picture of the crisis," Al Jazeera quoted the foreign minister as saying.

Sheikh Mohammed told the channel that the measures taken against Qatar had an "unprecedented impact" on its citizens and on family relations in the Gulf Arab region, but said Doha will not take counter measures.

Qatar "believes such differences between sister countries must be resolved through dialogue."

Kuwait's ruler will travel to Saudi Arabia for talks with King Salman over a Gulf Arab dispute with Qatar, Gulf Arab officials said.